6 Velvet Pieces to Add to Your Wardrobe This Fall

A crush of velvet sauntered down the catwalks of many a Fall 2016 fashion show — from Paris to Milan to New York. A veritable alphabet of designers from Alberta Ferretti to Balmain, Elie Saab, Fendi, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Stella McCartney, Valentino, and many more put the textile to use, bringing it back from its heyday in the ’90s. And, the chic celebrity set has been none too shy to embrace the trend in full force.

Yet there are new ways to wear velvet and indulge in the rich, sumptuous nature of this plush rush without looking like a blast from the past. While velvet slip dresses and rompers are a given, some of the best ways to wear the touchable trend are in accent pieces — think blazers, booties, handbags, and scarves — that add a luxe upgrade to any ensemble.

The guys don’t get left out of the velvet mix here either. It’s just as trendsetting for the fellows to put the look to work for them in such pieces as jackets, shoes, and bow ties.

Here are some of the coolest ways to wrap up in velvet this fall and winter.

1. For the girls: bomber jacket

Alice + Olivia bomber jacket | NeimanMarcus.com

Taking advantage of two of the hottest trends for fall, the velvet bomber is a plush upgrade on the jacket. Not to be thought of as strictly an outerwear piece, it’s a versatile, new version of a blazer that you’ll want to wear on many an occasion. It is perfect paired with skinny jeans or leather pants, and dressy enough to throw off a dress or skirt. Alice + Olivia has a particularly enviable quilted one in an emerald color that simply screams cool-girl.

2. For the guys: sport coat

A man wearing a velvet sport coat | iStock.com/feedough

The quintessential way for the boys to wear the velvet trend is with the sport coat. And, no, this look isn’t just reserved for a black-tie event. Slightly more casual renditions of the jacket are suitable companions to dress up jeans and a button-down, or to fling over a pair of trousers in a pinch. There isn’t a shortage of options out there at the moment either — from Tom Ford’s jewel-toned green blazer, to Etro’s crushed velvet navy option, and Burberry’s beautiful eggplant evening jacket. Of course, black is always an option, but a deeply saturated hue is a great way to color outside the lines.

3. For the girls: boots and pumps

Velvet boots | iStock.com/cokacoka

Booties are one of the easiest ways to embrace your velveteen side this season, especially if you’re not completely sold on the trend yet. Velvety booties will kick up a standard jean and sweater look to the next level. But they’re also dressy enough to pair back to a flirty frock for a bit of edge. A pair like Kendall + Kylie’s Logan Velvet Slip-On Ankle Boots flaunt a saturated, sapphire hue plus a pointed shape that’s equal parts retro and oh-so-modern. Of course, a slightly more extravagant way to wear the trend in your footwear is with a pair of over-the-knee boots, which are the perfect addition to jeans or a mini this season.

Velvet also makes a fine companion to a pair of sassy heels, truly pumping up the volume of that pair of standard-issue pumps. Whether you stick with basic black velvet pumps, or take a bolder color for a spin (like SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bliss Velvet Slingbacks in fuchsia), your business suit will immediately go from day to night and that sultry little LBD will be all the better for it.

4. For the guys: loafers

Men’s velvet loafer | Nordstrom

It doesn’t stop at the new velvet jacket; for men, the trend continues all the way down to the floor with luxe loafers and slipper-style shoes. Put on a pair of these and that casual jeans and sweater ensemble gets a whole new lease on life. They’re tailor-made for suits and tuxes, too, should the mood for formality strike. Salvatore Ferragamo has a particularly fetching line of “Lord” velvet bit loafers that are sleek statements and come in the season’s hot colors of midnight navy and deep crimson red.

5. For the girls: handbags

A velvet handbag is a great piece to add to your wardrobe | iStock.com/AlexanderBabich

Another way to bring velvet into the fold is with an accessory like a handbag. The plush nature that the fabric lends to a cocktail-party minaudiere or even a daytime tote can elevate even the most basic of looks. Quilted velvet versions, such as Calvin Klein’s oxblood shoulder bag, are particularly eye-catching, as they bring in additional textural patterning and can effortlessly transition from daytime to night. For a more understated effect, try a midnight-blue velvet clutch that’s subtle yet still different from the standard black.

6. For the guys: bow ties

Men’s velvet bow tie | Nordstrom

Men: Think of the velvet black bow tie as your velvet evening clutch. From afar, the silky sheen on the fabric is barely noticeable. But up close, it’s an irresistibly touchable way to put the finishing touch on that crisp white button-down that finds itself the companion to any measure of suit or tux.